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Riyadh Action Agenda Gathers Steam as Land Governance Takes Center Stage at UNCCD COP16

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The role of governance in local, regional and international efforts to tackle land degradation, drought and desertification, dominated discussions during Governance Day at COP16 in Riyadh on Friday. Proceedings featured major events driving action on land degradation, including water scarcity, and desertification, as well as advancing women’s land rights and enhancing urban-rural linkages.

It comes amid the launch of the Riyadh Action Agenda, a landmark initiative of Saudia Arabia’s UNCCD COP16 Presidency, mobilizing state and non-state actors. It will enhance financing for land restoration and drought resilience and drive measurable progress towards the UNCCD target of restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030. The Riyadh Action Agenda further progressed on Governance Day, with a declaration calling for engagement between local and regional governments to develop a roadmap for tackling land degradation, drought and desertification.

Meanwhile, the Mayors Forum, featuring current and former mayors, policymakers and experts, sought to elevate the role of local and regional governments in addressing land degradation, desertification and drought. Participants called for enhanced cooperation and inclusive finance, amongst other key policy areas.

Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya, Turkey and Co-President of the United Cities and Local Governments, said: “Meaningful action requires meaningful resources. I am here, as head of the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments delegation to make a strong Call for Engagement of local and subnational leaders to unite for combating Land Degradation and Drought, through mechanisms that prioritize investments in drought-resilient infrastructure and ecosystem restoration, while also ensuring direct access for all subnational governments, particularly in the Global South,”

Walid Al-Akrish, Deputy for Projects for Riyadh Municipality, Saudi Arabia, gave a keynote address, saying: “We must acknowledge that the challenges we face; population growth, rapid urbanization and unsustainable agricultural practices, have led to alarming rates of land degradation and biodiversity loss.”

Urbanization is intensifying the strain on hinterlands, water and food resources, and further accelerating land degradation. The growth of urbanized areas is only forecast to increase, with 68% of the worlds population expected to be residing in urban areas by 2050, according to the UN. Rapid urbanization is forecast to greatly impact surrounding rural areas, especially in developing countries. This trend is set to further heighten the importance of regional and local authorities, in managing resources for growing populations.

Alongside the Mayors Forum, an event on urban-rural linkages explored the governance frameworks and financing tools that can be used to strengthen the connections between rural producers and urban consumers.

“It is imperative we localize decision-making to combat land degradation, desertification and drought, and enhance the synergies between growing urban populations and rural producers,” said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency.

“The Riyadh Action Agenda is now up and running and already mobilizing a range of key stakeholders to accelerate action on land restoration and drought resilience. It will bring together international state and non-state actors to deliver tangible change for people around the world, during the remainder of COP16, and beyond.”

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia launched the Riyadh Action Agenda. It will encourage countries, the private sector, financial institutions, international organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen the convention by either joining existing initiatives that bolster global action on land degradation, desertification and drought, such as the Middles East Green Initiative, Africa Great Wall, Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, or champion new initiatives.

Already, COP16 in Riyadh has secured over $12 billion in funding pledges from major international organizations, amplifying the role of financial institutions and the private sector’s role in combating land degradation, desertification and drought, and launched the groundbreaking Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.

About COP16 Riyadh

The UNCCD COP16 conference is taking place from December 2-13, 2024, at Boulevard Riyadh World, Saudi Arabia. The conference, themed Our Land. Our Future, will mark the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD and aims to secure multilateral action on critical issues such as drought resilience, land tenure, and sand and dust storms.   

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SOURCE UNCCD COP16 Presidency

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NICE Recovery Systems Partners with Norwegian Alpine Ski Team – Team Telenor to Elevate Performance and Recovery on the World Stage

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BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NICE Recovery Systems, a leader in recovery and performance technology, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Norwegian Alpine Ski Team – Team Telenor. This partnership will provide Norway’s top alpine athletes with NICE’s best-in-class recovery solutions, including the NICE1 Iceless Cold + Compression Therapy System, supporting their performance throughout the 2024/2025 World Cup season and beyond.

As the Strategic Partner and Preferred Supplier of Recovery Products for Norwegian Alpine Ski Team – Team Telenor, NICE Recovery Systems is committed to advancing recovery solutions for elite athletes. This collaboration underscores the critical role recovery plays in competitive sports, enabling the Norwegian team to achieve peak performance while highlighting NICE’s innovative technology.

“Recovery is no longer a luxury for elite athletes; it’s a necessity,” said Michael Ross, CEO of NICE Recovery Systems. “We are honored to partner with the Norwegian Alpine Ski Team, whose dedication to excellence aligns with our mission to provide unmatched performance and recovery solutions.”

“We are excited to partner with NICE Recovery Systems and bring their top-tier recovery technology to our team,” said Claus Ryste, Sports Director, Norwegian Alpine Ski Team – Team Telenor. “This collaboration ensures our athletes have the best tools for recovery during a demanding season, and from our experience, the best alternative when injuries occur. We look forward to the support this partnership will provide at the highest level.”

A Partnership Built for Champions

Through this partnership, Norwegian Alpine Ski Team – Team Telenor athletes will incorporate NICE products into their training and competition recovery routines. The partnership kicks off during the Birds of Prey World Cup at Beaver Creek, Colorado (Dec 6-15), where Norwegian Alpine Ski Team – Team Telenor will use NICE products to recover between races.

About NICE Recovery Systems

Based in Boulder, CO, NICE Recovery Systems is dedicated to the uncompromising pursuit of the highest quality recovery and performance technology. With a commitment to innovation and expert-informed design, NICE products empower users to recover smarter, faster, and better. Learn more at www.nicerecovery.com.

About the Norwegian Alpine Ski Team – Team Telenor

Norwegian Alpine Ski Team – Team Telenor represents Norway’s elite alpine skiers, competing on the world’s biggest stages, including the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup and the Winter Olympics. Known as the “Attacking Vikings,” the team is a symbol of excellence and dedication in the sport of alpine skiing.

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SOURCE NICE Recovery Systems

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OCLC is among Computerworld’s ‘Best Places to Work in IT’ for the 16th year

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Global library technology leader ranked second overall among midsize global organizations, first in DEI strategies, and first in benefits

DUBLIN, Ohio, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — OCLC, the leading library technology and research organization, has been named among Computerworld’s Best Places to Work in IT 2025. This is the 16th time OCLC has been named a top workplace for information technology professionals by Computerworld.

OCLC was ranked second overall for midsize employers (1,001 to 4,999 employees). The recognition is part of the prestigious IT publication’s annual selection of the Best Places to Work in IT. In past years, the survey had been offered only to U.S.-based companies, but for the last three years Computerworld has included organizations worldwide.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized among the top IT workplaces in Computerworld’s global survey,” said Skip Prichard, OCLC President and CEO. “This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to create a culture in which our associates can excel. I’m often told that our associates come to OCLC because of our mission, and they stay because of the people and culture. It’s our talented, dedicated team that makes OCLC such an exceptional place to work.”

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC provides state-of-the-art technologies and services, research, and community programs to libraries of all types and sizes. Together, thousands of OCLC member libraries in more than 100 countries support access to the world’s collected knowledge. WorldCat, the world’s most comprehensive online resource for finding library materials, is among many services provided by OCLC. Anyone can search the collections of thousands of libraries through WorldCat.org.

“OCLC is an inclusive workplace where different experiences and viewpoints are represented in our work on behalf of libraries and their users worldwide,” said Tammi Spayde, OCLC Chief HR Officer. “We know that diverse views create the best services. Our goal is to provide an environment where people thrive professionally, while enjoying the benefits they need to succeed outside of work.”

In addition to placing second overall in the midsize category, OCLC placed first for its DEI strategies, first for exceptional benefits, sixth for IT growth, and seventh for remote/hybrid work experience.

“Our global IT teams are responsible for systems and services that libraries, researchers, students, and lifelong learners depend on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, worldwide,” said Bart Murphy, OCLC Chief Technology and Information Officer. “We employ a great combination of IT professionals who are committed to our mission and are eager to grow their careers with a world-class information technology leader.”

More about careers at OCLC is on the OCLC website.

For more information: Contact Bob Murphy at murphyb@oclc.org or +1-614-761-5136

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SOURCE OCLC

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E2IP’s Edge AI Sensing Platform with Machine Vision. An ST Micro based Edge AI platform

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MONTRÉAL, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – Today, we are excited to announce the launch of the E2IP Edge AI Sensing Platform (EAISP), our platform for developers, engineers, and early adopters eager to explore the next frontier of intelligent Edge AI computing. EAISP enables intelligence to be added to devices at the edge, unleashing the real power of smart devices. Powered by the ST Microelectronics AI MCU processor, the STM32N6, EAISP is designed to bring unparalleled AI-powered general sensing and machine vision capabilities to cross vertical applications on edge devices.

The Edge AI Sensing Platform combines high-performance machine vision with robust edge AI processing, delivering real-time insights and enabling smarter decision-making directly on the device. With its seamless integration of machine learning and support of AI algorithms, this platform is built to handle demanding applications in medical, security, industrial automation, smart cities, and more. The platform is designed for situations where time (low latency), efficiency (low power and reduced data transmissions), security (no transmission of sensing data) all matter; extremely compact and power-efficient to deploy, EAISP minimizes the data that needs to be stored and transmitted — enabling low-latency, real-time decision-making at the device level.

Key Features:

STM32N6-Based Architecture: Powered by the latest STM32N6 microcontroller, providing exceptional processing power, energy efficiency, and a proprietary NPUReal-Time Edge AI Processing: Process data locally with low latency to provide faster insightsMachine Vision Integration: Built-in support for computer vision, enabling real-time object recognition, motion tracking, and intelligent scene understandingScalable Whether you’re developing a smart factory, autonomous vehicle system, or AI-enhanced surveillance network, the platform is designed to scale for diverse applications

Why Early Adopters Should Take Notice:

Innovation at the Edge: Leverage powerful AI models and machine vision at the edge, reducing reliance on centralized computing resources and enhancing privacyFuture-Proof and Flexible: The EdgeAI Sensing Platform allows users to future-proof their designs with an ecosystem that supports both hardware and software advancementsLow Latency, High Efficiency: With edge-based processing, latency is minimized, allowing for near real time inferencing —critical for applications requiring split-second decision-makingEasy Development: Development tools and models from STM32Cube.ai make it easier than ever to get started with AI-powered sensing and machine vision without requiring deep expertise in hardware design

“We are excited to deliver a platform that accelerates AI innovation at the Edge for general sensing and machine vision applications,” said Eric St-Jacques, CEO at e2ip technologies. “EaiSP’s combination of processing power, energy efficiency, and AI capabilities, along with support for development tools and services offers an unprecedented opportunity for early adopters to lead the way in smart, AI-powered solutions, by adding intelligence at the edge where sensors operate.”

Availability:

Developed in partnership with Siana-Systems, the first version of the Edge AI Sensing Platform with Machine Vision will be available for purchase in January of 2025 and demonstrated at CES in the ST Pavillion.

Contact us to learn about our Early Adopter Program.

About E2IP TECHNOLOGIES

Smart Structural Surfaces™ and Devices. We create new possibilities through fundamental research in embedded system architectures, material sciences, printed electronics, and advanced manufacturing processes. Our Innovations reduce the eco footprint of the global electronics industry, add intelligence and simplify how we all interact with electronic systems in our everyday lives. E2IP is the HMI, IIoT and now Edge AI partner to global market leaders of the world’s most demanding markets. For more information, visit our website www.e2ip.com 

About ST

At ST, we are over 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are committed to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

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SOURCE E2IP Technologies

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